JOHANNESBURG - They continue to remind us of the 1966 exploits. That was the last time England won the World Cup and that they are they are the ones who invented the sport of the billions.
They constantly repeat over and over again to all those who dare listen that the English Premier League is the best league on the globe. That is the English media for you.
But following the humiliating defeat in which Chelsea where crushed 3-1 by Atletico Madrid, we wait with baited breath to hear what excuse the English media will have.
This year’s European Champions final scheduled for Lisbon will feature an all Spain/Madrid teams – Atletico and Real Madrid.
True, when it comes to marketing the game, few if any, come close to the English. They have really raised the bar as far as marketing the sport is concerned.
It is no surprise that their matches, even involving small teams are attended by throngs and throngs of supporters.
This is very impressive in the sense that at a time when more and more people are staying away from the game, the opposite is happening in England.
They have demystified the myths that television has taken away people from the stadiums.
Their matches are watched across the globe and fans in most European countries including Spain and Germany actually support clubs in England.
That is how influential the English have made their game to be, thanks to their powerful media.
It is also for this reason that they have managed to pump propaganda to gullible football lovers that the English game is the real deal and that their league is second to none.
But what we saw on Wednesday portrays another image. No English club at this year’s final, just as was the case last year when Bayern and Borussia Dortmund clashed for the biggest club accolade on this universe.
On Wednesday Atletico once again exposed the English game as still far way behind that of Spain and Germany; though the English media will not budge.
Only on Sunday, Liverpool had branded Chelsea’s stoic defending as tantamount to parking two buses at the back arguing the tactics were anti-football.
But the way the same side was torn apart and how the Chelsea’s much vaunted back four looked like fish out of water, points to a different story altogether.
Wednesday’s game was punted as a tactical affair between the world’s best tacticians who have contrasting budgets they operate on.
Records suggest both teams have the best defences in their respective leagues and are very lethal on set pieces.
Yet the lesson Atletico administered to Chelsea and the Special One have left people wondering whether the much-talked about English game is anywhere near that of their closest rivals.
My colleague here who claims to have travelled the width and breath of this universe covering the game of football, texted me soon after the end of the Chelsea/Atletico game to say, the English have the media and marketing teams but their game is still a long way from being at par with those in Spain and Germany.
I tend to agree although in whichever country you go, you will find multitude of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal supporters just to name a few.
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